Authors: Stephanie Perry Moore

Get What You Give (13 page)

BOOK: Get What You Give

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“Excuse me! Can I say something, please?” I said, waving my hand in the air to try to get the Chapter President's attention.

Teddi was tugging on my suit. I shoved her hand off me. I needed to speak to try to calm everyone.

“Ladies, could y'all settle down and show respect? Let the collegiate speak,” said an alumni lady who sat on the other side of me.

“I don't know a lot about what is going on right now, being that I'm a new Beta Gamma Pi member. But I remember about twelve years ago when my mom was a charter member of this chapter. I was serving the ladies tea and drinks, and I would hear parts of the conversation taking place. If I recall, there was another chapter that had this service area, and they didn't want you guys to have it. And I think, looking back over all these years, even that chapter would admit they were wrong in wanting to prevent you ladies from going forward. Obviouslyâbecause look where you are today. So much service has been done. So I guess what I'm trying to say is while it's tough to give up territory or possibly lose future members, this chapter is growingâit's strong and thriving. Beta Gamma Pi should be about giving more and expanding. Don't you wanna make it easier for another chapter than this chapter had it?” Ladies were all listening and nodding, and I personally thought of my own challenges and continued. “Why can't the newcomer in Beta Gamma Pi ever get support? Gosh!”

POMP

W
hen I was done speaking, there was thunderous applause from all parts of the room. I didn't say what I'd saidâfrom my heartâto get any accoladesâas much as I wanted them to acknowledge what I said, take in what I said, and be ready to support growth. However, they kept clapping. At last they settled down, and there was a recommendation from a lady in their chapter not to fight the steering committee's wishes to have part of their territory charter a new chapter. It was seconded by my mother, and no one opposed the decision; it was unanimously voted upon to help the new effort.

After the meeting, a lady from the steering committee came over to me and said, “Oh, my gosh. You know, so many times women in chapters don't say anything because they wanna go along to get along, but sometimes we need to hear from the mouth of babes. You had a fresh, honest perspective we needed to hear. You understand the heart of what we're about. I'm glad you spoke, told the truth, shared your mind. You did it, soror! And because of it you blessed us to move forward.”

My mom ran up to me and gave me a big hug and kiss. My line sisters gave me high fives but quickly moved over to the gift table. Pulling me away from my girls, my mom ushered me over to her Chapter President.

And the lady, who at first had been unmoved about not wanting to give up her territory and share, now had a change of heart and said, “Hi, I'm Soror Walker. Thank you.”

“For what?” I said.

“For calling a spade a spade, keeping me honest about what Beta Gamma Pi should really be about in the first place. I had a lot of people over the last few years telling me, âDon't lose territory on your watch.' I guess I bought into the hype and forgot about the principle that says why giving up territory is the best thing for the new chapter and for us. I don't know if you're planning on staying in the area. Your sister just joined our chapter earlier this year. So please consider us as your alumni home. If there is a new chapter, we don't wanna lose someone like you.”

I just smiled and said, “Thanks. And thank you for allowing me to speak.”

Teddi rushed over to us and said, “I'm sorry, but may I borrow her for a quick second?”

“Yes, sure. Now, you girls know you are welcome here anytime. We don't want you to just be here because we're giving out gifts,” Soror Walker said, being the spunky President she was onstage.

“Yes, ma'am,” Teddi said.

“Girl, what's up? You seem frustrated.”

“We gotta hurry and get back to the chapter room.”

“I don't know what you mean,” I said to her, my eyes squinted.

“I don't know. Cassidy just called and said we need to get there, and quick.”

In my gut, I felt it had something to do with the Mr. Beta contest. It took the five of us about twenty minutes to get to the chapter room. As soon as we walked through the door, Sam snatched me.

She said, “What the heck is going on, Hailey? I mean, are you monitoring what's going on in your committee?”

“Yeah,” I said, thinking I had charged everyone with a task. I thought I'd had a good hold on everything. What could be the problem? I gave her a look like
Okay, what's up?

Then she handed me a flier with our symbols on a guy's chest. “This is absolutely unacceptable! This guy is practically wearing nothing here! He is not a soror.”

“I don't know who did that,” I said to her, totally stunned.

“Yeah, we didn't do that,” Quisa said, just as thrown off as I was.

All of a sudden, Connie entered the door, ranting. “Why did you summon me here?”

Sam said, “Somebody saw you putting up these posters, Connie. You didn't get this approved. You can't put this up.”

“I'm with promotions. People love the ad. Plus, the chair is cool with it,” she said, pointing to me.

“Connie, I never saw it! Nor did the committee,” I said, being clear she never showed me the sheet. “When did I approve this?”

“No, no, no,” she said, getting defensive. “I told you I could get the people here, and you told me to go make it happen. So I got fliers, and I'm making it happen. Everybody's been stopping me asking me about the flierâthat's why the word is out. This show is going to be hot. And don't trip on protocol. So whatâI didn't show it to you all. I'm getting results. This ad is selling tickets,” Connie said as she snatched the poster from Sam's hand.

Sam snatched it back. “Don't take anything out of my hand. This guy is not a member of Beta Gamma Pi, and he's sporting our symbols on his chest like he is.”

Connie defended, “No, it says âSponsored by Beta Gamma Pi.' Don't you see âsponsored by' over here on the right?”

“No, all I can see is the guy's chest. We're supposed to be about the business of BGP, not about âcome and sex me up.'” Sam turned to me. “I mean, what are you advertising here, Hailey? How come you didn't see this? Everything is supposed to come to me before it's put out there.”

“Me, me, me, me, me,” Connie taunted Sam. “It's
our
chapter, or has the power diluted your already power-hungry brain?”

“Whatever, Connie, don't show you're jealous. I'm the President, and I know you don't like it, but that's the way it is. And all these need to be removed now,” Sam forcefully said as she moved closer to Connie's face.

“Then nobody will be in the audience, because these neophytes sure don't know how to make it happen,” Connie said, stepping into Sam's space as well.

The two of them got closer to each otherâeverything I was trying to avoid. They were so big, trying to out-talk each otherâso loud, so boisterous. It was just unsisterly. It wasn't about what the President was saying, it was how she was saying it. Connie had great intentions, but she was wrong with how she was trying to convey them. Because it couldn't go one hundred percent her way, she didn't want help at all. Maybe this was all a little too much for me.

Out of frustration, I said, “You know what? Forget this. I tried as chair, and I can't do this anymore. I quit.”

“Whatever. Let her go!” Connie called out as I walked toward the door to exit our sorority room.

I hadn't said I was quitting to bluff. I wasn't thinking they'd come and beg me to stay. Nobody did that anyway. Obviously, I wasn't being an effective leader, and sometimes that was the problem, in my opinion, when it came to people leading anything. They never knew how to step aside and do what was best, not just for themselves, but for the group. Sometimes fresh blood made it easier to get the job done.

When I got outside, the rain hit my face. Though I wasn't having a pity party, I didn't feel happy. The majority of the time I insisted on an umbrella to keep dry. No, not this time. Now I needed the rain to cleanse me, free me from this stress and drama. The more wet I became, the fewer worries I was supposed to feelâbut then things seemed worse.

“Hailey, wait up! I gotta get my umbrella up, girl!” Teddi called from somewhere behind me, but I wasn't stopping. I was going home to get in some studying before our midterms. “Okay, see, you're gonna catch the flu. You don't have on a coat, it's raining, and you're walking in the rain like it ain't wintertime. You live with me, girl, and I'm not getting sick. Get under this umbrella, Miss Stubborn.”

“I just wanna be alone for a minute, Teddi, seriously.”

“Listen,” she said as she stopped me from walking. “When this school term started back in the fall, I really wanted to be SGA President. I thought I could give the students here what we were missingâintegrity, character, someone they could believe in and trust who would never give up on them and never let them down. Problem was I didn't have a plan, and then this guy came along, and he did have one. Now he has proven to be in it for the long haul. So I'm admitting I wasn't the best candidate.” I looked at her like
Where are you going with this?
“We joined a sorority to make a difference. And I guess I'm learning I can be a good leader if I learn how to be a good follower. And I wouldn't be a good follower if I just let you walk off the job. This is your vision. You are supposed to see it through. So there have been a few bumps along this roadâwe need them to make us stronger. We need you.”

“Whatever. You heard them back there. If they need this, they certainly don't need me. Oh, no, I'm through,” I said, hoping Teddi would get the point.

“Come on, I'm kidnapping you.”

“Where are we going?”

“For a little drive.”

Disgusted with the thought of getting more soaked, I walked back with Teddi to her car. Whether I admitted it or not, I really wanted to see where she was taking me. I guess after asking her numerous times Teddi began to ignore my question. Playing it smart, I just sat back, let Teddi drive, and prayed inwardly I could get myself together. Feeling like a failure had me really down.

Riding toward the projects, I had no clue where we were going. We were at a trailer park that needed to be condemned. The place looked unlivable. Yet kids were playing in the yard, so I knew someone lived there.

“You put me in charge of finances,” she said, “and so I came out to see this family because I wanted to present to the sorority what we could do with the money we raised and how we could best help them.”

“Where are we?”

“We're at Ms. King's place.”

“I thought she stayed somewhere else,” I said, remembering the decent place I had visited her at during the Thanksgiving holiday.

“She got kicked out of that place, and now she lives here.”

“But half the windows are boarded up.”

“Exactly, but they're in there. Girl, it's so sad.”

When we went inside, Ms. King was happy to see Teddi. It felt good she remembered me when we'd had only the one visit. Teddi said she forgot something and headed back to the car.

Ms. King said, “So, girl, I don't just remember your pretty face. I also remember you were a little down. You better?”

I so wanted to crawl into her arms and yell, “No!” However, I knew looking at her tough situation that she didn't need to be weighed down with anyone else's bad news. So I assured her I was better.

“Good,” she said as she extended her arms. “Come on, let Ms. King give you some love. Everybody needs a hug now and then to keep 'em feeling special.”

When Teddi came back in, she had the kids trailing behind her. They were yelling for joy. Teddi had given each of them stuffed animals. I thought that was so sweet.

Teddi mumbled under her breath, “Don't tell anybody I'm doing this. How hilarious! Teddi giving out teddy bears. You better not say anything, Hailey!”

“But it's so nice, girl.”

Ms. King's eyed watered, and she sank to her couch that had half a cushion. “Oh, Teddi, girl, this is so nice. Now them kids will stop asking for stuff for a bit. I'm just so glad y'all stopped by to help me. Don't nobody care. They always say there's a whole bunch of paperwork to file, and I can qualify for this and get approved for that. I don't know how to do that stuff! All I know is I got these children, and if it ain't one thing they need, it's another. I got more bills than I got money. I already lost one house and a daughter, and if I don't get it together, DFCS will come and take these kids from me. I don't know if they can survive losing me on top of losing they mama. Shoot, I don't know if I can survive it either.”

By the time she finished speaking, water was all over my face, and it wasn't from the rain I had just come out of. We stayed there another hour. Teddi and I helped the two older children with their reading and math, and then we helped Ms. King clean up a little bit and assured her we could get her funds that could fix her holed floors and her broken window. We also knew she needed a refrigerator and, if we could swing it, a washer and drier. I couldn't imagine going to the wash house, as she called it. Before we left, we took pictures. Teddi and I knew the chapter needed to see the devastation.

As soon as we got in the car, Teddi just looked at me. She didn't have to say anything. She didn't have to make a big speech about me staying to make a difference. I just nodded and I knew, no matter how tough or uncomfortable it may feel, that what we were doing was much bigger than me. But what we were doing needed me to help get it done, and just like that I was back on board ready to chair the committee again.

Later that night, my line sisters showed up to the dorm Teddi and I shared.

“So, tell us you're not quitting,” Evan said, obviously hoping the rumor wasn't true.

“I know we're all a hot mess to lead,” Quisa said as she took my hand, “but we need you.”

“And we're not letting you quit,” Millie said, unusually strong. “So now what?”

BOOK: Get What You Give

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